Sinop, a port city that has been actively used in maritime trade since the 7th century BC, has also served as a safe natural harbor for cargo ships that have had difficulty navigating the giant waves of the Black Sea during stormy weather for centuries. Work has also been initiated to bring the underwater cultural heritage of the city to light.
Within the framework of the research, which will be carried out by Sinop University with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and will be completed in 18 months, a team of 8 people formed within the Underwater Archeology Application and Research Center will determine the historical background of the wrecks by locating them.
It is aimed that the shipwrecks, which will be uncovered at the end of the study, will be brought into diving tourism by the Ministry.
Sinop University Underwater Archeology Application and Research Center Director Dr. Faculty Member Babür Mehmet Akarsu said that Sinop is a city rich in underwater cultural heritage.
Akarsu emphasized that some studies have been carried out to bring the underwater cultural heritage to light. we shared the identified shipwrecks with the public at international meetings and conferences. Now we will carry out a very comprehensive study with the support of our Ministry.
The oldest sunken Roman ship
Akarsu stated that Sinop is a city where wars were experienced in the past as well as maritime trade, and the cultural heritage underwater will have an extraordinarily positive effect on Sinop tourism. Because we have underwater cultural heritage belonging to all periods. So there are shipwrecks from the Roman period. Apart from these, there are shipwrecks from the Ottoman period. There are finds such as ships, cannons, and rifles belonging to our sailors who were martyred by heroically fighting for us on November 30, 1853.
Akkarsu also explained that there were plane wrecks underwater and said, many wrecks in Sinop are at the point where they cannot be damaged by diving anymore. For example, a Greek dry cargo ship that was sunk in World War II was dynamited underwater and dismantled. Such wrecks can’t be damaged during dives. Bringing them into diving tourism is very important for the country and Sinop tourism. In addition, there are wrecks of both 90 meters and 12 meters in Sinop, so it is possible to dive in both deep and shallow waters at the same time.
Akarsu pointed out that the oldest shipwreck discovered to date is a ship from the Roman period, and we think that we will reach different shipwrecks with a comprehensive underwater survey. We can also find shipwrecks dating back to the 7th century BC.